Page 74 - English Grammar - 7

7. She ________________________ a sweater for her brother. (knit)

8. The baker ________________________ fresh bread. (sell)
9. The enemy _______________ the line of control. (approach)
10. They _______________ to put up a grand show. (prepare)

11. We aren’t _______________ in this tournament. (play)
12. Tonight, he _______________ at his cousin’s place. (stay)

13. What _______________ she _______________ for her big day? (wear)
14. The trains _______________ on time these days. (run)
15. How _______________ he _______________ home this evening? (come)

Let’s Learn Past Continuous Tense

The past continuous tense describes an action that was in progress at a specific time in the
past. A past continuous sentence is formed by using was/were + present participle form of
the main verb.

The past continuous tense can be used to:

� describe an action that started in the past, but stopped because of another action.
I was reading when he disturbed me.
O
� describe two actions happening at a same time in the past.
I was preparing the meal while the baby was sleeping.
O
She was returning home when her cycle broke down.
O

Formation of Sentences in the Past Continuous Tense

The negative in past continuous is formed by using was not/were not + -ing (present
participle) form of the main verb. For example:
Continuous Tenses
We were not shouting when the principal came.
O
The interrogative (yes/no question) in past continuous is formed by using was/was not or
were/were not + subject + present participle form of the main verb. For example:

Was I speaking too fast?
O
The wh-question in past continuous is formed by beginning the question with a wh-word
+ was/were or + subject + present participle form of the main verb. For example:

When were they planning to break the good news?
O

Practice Time 2

Fill in the blanks with the past continuous form of the verbs given in brackets.

1. I _______________ the wound when the doctor walked in. (clean)
2. He _______________ home when we needed the medicine. (drive)
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